Other AFC Teams

[zoostation]

My fear playing Denver: NE's WR situation could allow Denver's D to put 8 in the box.

James White would love that.

 

[Uptown]

Don't Fret!!!

Every season that Brady has had his "worst" cast of weapons around him, the team has simply finished......12-4. (Granted, we did not win SBs in those years because we had to go on the road; Also, they were all against P. Manning- led teams). However, when healthy; this team is more deep & talented than those other teams were. Now let's see if we can get healthier towards the end of the season & maybe lock up a bye-week.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

My fear playing Denver: NE's WR situation could allow Denver's D to put 8 in the box. I also fear Denver's running game that has proven it can dominate verses NE.

the edelman injury no doubt hurts us here. however, denver still has to stop gronk, cooks, dola, hogan, dorsett and maybe mitchell (if he returns). they are going to have to stop our offense with a relentless pass rush. if brady gets protection, it's game over as we have too many weapons.

 

[PatriotReign]

The Steelers are actually a concerning team because the Pats would have to win in a shootout. They are loaded on offense: Bell, Bryant, Brown, Schuster, and a few ancillary guys that have the potential to do damage. Their defense still sucks but I'm anticipating a really high scoring game.

 

[JMC00]

The Steelers are actually a concerning team because the Pats would have to win in a shootout. They are loaded on offense: Bell, Bryant, Brown, Schuster, and a few ancillary guys that have the potential to do damage. Their defense still sucks but I'm anticipating a really high scoring game.

No. No they are not and history has proven that.

Schuster? Are you really pumping up a rookie that has 3 catches for 16 yards in 2 games?

 

[PatsFan2]

the edelman injury no doubt hurts us here. however, denver still has to stop gronk, cooks, dola, hogan, dorsett and maybe mitchell (if he returns). they are going to have to stop our offense with a relentless pass rush. if brady gets protection, it's game over as we have too many weapons.

Denver don't have to stop Gronk - Dola and Mitchell with their Fragility they can all stop themselves. I ain't betting that all Three will be healthy by the time we play them.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Donks lost their starting left tackle. Looked serious. That could impact their season

 

[TommyD4207]

Ravens. Dilfer. Nuff said.

17 years ago, Brady's rookie season. Nuff Said.

 

[TommyD4207]

The Steelers are actually a concerning team because the Pats would have to win in a shootout. They are loaded on offense: Bell, Bryant, Brown, Schuster, and a few ancillary guys that have the potential to do damage. Their defense still sucks but I'm anticipating a really high scoring game.

The Patriots have scored more points in each game than Pittsburgh has. Color me unconcerned about Zone Blitzburgh and the Disappearing Ben Show.

 

[ivanvamp]

The Patriots have scored more points in each game than Pittsburgh has. Color me unconcerned about Zone Blitzburgh and the Disappearing Ben Show.

Makes a big difference where the game is played. In Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger is tremendous. On the road, not so much.

 

[TommyD4207]

Makes a big difference where the game is played. In Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger is tremendous. On the road, not so much.

That's true as a rule. But no matter where they play, the Patriots tend to win that game.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Donks lost their starting left tackle. Looked serious. That could impact their season

He has a bone bruise, and he'll be back in 6 weeks or so. The injury is painful and will linger, however.

 

[Haterproof]

Denver don't have to stop Gronk - Dola and Mitchell with their Fragility they can all stop themselves. I ain't betting that all Three will be healthy by the time we play them.

Well we do play them an eternity from now! That game will be hard fought grind it out type of game! As is every Pats vs Broncos game!

 

[supafly]

The Steelers are actually a concerning team because the Pats would have to win in a shootout. They are loaded on offense: Bell, Bryant, Brown, Schuster, and a few ancillary guys that have the potential to do damage. Their defense still sucks but I'm anticipating a really high scoring game.

They have more receiving options than they've had in most years. Smith-Schuster hasn't done much yet, but he's another high round pick (2nd) who is a deep threat. He's a burner who is their kickoff returner, but with so many other options, I don't see him making too much noise in terms of catches this year.

Through 2 games, it's obviously Brown who is leading in targets (22), but they're using TE Jesse James a lot more, who is currently second on the team in targets (13), and also has 2 touchdowns. After that it's obviously Bryant and Bell (10 each).
They're also getting pretty comfortable with looking to Eli Rodgers in the slot, which we started to see last year, as well.

As far as defense goes, they certainly don't "suck," and have definitely made some improvements. With three first round LBs and guys like Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt manning the front seven, I don't see how that argument can even be made at this point. Their weakness was always on the back end, but they spent a first rounder on Artie Burns last year, who had a pretty good TC and was winning a lot of battles against Antonio Brown. Of course, they also added Joe Haden, who while not as good as in the past, is still a big improvement over last year's starter Ross ****rell. The safeties were also improved upon, at least on paper. They kept Mitchell, drafted Davis (2nd round), and also added JJ Wilcox via free agency.

It's obviously still early and they haven't really been tested much yet, but they're currently 3rd in yards allowed and 6th in points allowed. With Chicago on deck and a likely 3-0 start, the schedule helps to build their confidence on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[supafly]

Color me unconcerned about Zone Blitzburgh and the Disappearing Ben Show.

They openly discussed how they would need to play man against them from now on, and made moves to back that up, both in the draft (Burns last year's 1st/CB, Davis this year's 2nd/S, Watt this year's 1st/LB), and via free agency (retained Tuitt, added Wilcox, added Haden). We'll have to see how it works out, but they're not going to be sitting back in zone, any longer.

Historically, the Pats have played well, but the game this year is the last game in a 5/6 away game stretch and is also coming on only 6 days rest after the MNF at Miami. Even with Edelman that game would've posed a decent challenge. Let's hope we can stay relatively injury-free or at least close to it, from now until then.

 

[supafly]

Donks lost their starting left tackle. Looked serious. That could impact their season

The dude who cried like a little baby? Lol. He's going to return in 4-6 weeks.

 

[Flash]

Don't really care about anyone else other than KC and Denver really. Teams that have strong defenses will give us the most trouble as usual. Pittsburgh and Oakland are not big threats to us, we will outscore them (if our receivers aren't all dead by the Playoffs) when we play them.

More worried about Denver than KC for me personally. We know Alex Smith's ceiling, and if we are full strength by the Playoffs we should be able to beat them. On the other hand, I think Denver might be better than us right now. Their pass defense is still the best in the league and their run defense held Zeke to 8 yards. Siemian looks good and CJA is healthy. Other than O-line I don't see a weakness on that team (barring injuries ofc). At full strength we are better but losing Edelman really hurts.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

It's great to keep track but it's week 2. It's incredibly early.

A team like Tennessee has looked very vanilla and still in pre season mode. They didn't fool Oakland once with any motion, predictable with personnel and missed too many tackles.

If that team doesn't open it up heads will roll by years end. I think the messege is finally getting clearer. Drop Murray and feature D.H. Get Davis/Taylor 16-20 touches a game.

Too talented not to open it up.

 

[carmelo15]

Come on man I'm not taking Denver serious

 

[supafly]

Come on man I'm not taking Denver serious

Why? They have what could easily be the best defense in the game, an excellent home field advantage, a good running game with Anderson and Charles, 2 solid WRs with Thomas and Sanders, and a QB who is making good reads and getting them the ball.

I don't know how everything will shake out for us with injuries, but you bet your ass that teams like KC, DEN, PIT, and even OAK are competitors for the AFC crown. I'm surprised that there are people who wouldn't think that. For example, look at PIT's easy ass schedule. They may have 3-4 difficult games over the entire season, and you need to involve the Ravens just to get to that. None of our games against the Broncos, Raiders or Steelers are at home, and the one that was (KC) was a loss. How is that not a challenge, at least for a bye or HFA?